The week is 'homelessness week' across Australia. Eltham and surrounds are fairly privileged communities with few overt signs of homelessness, but nevertheless it exists as a hidden problem - for instance, young people 'couch' surfing and older people (especially older women), in situations of insecure housing. The Board has agreed that this is one area for us to explore this year and the Youth Committee has as one of its goals to 'develop a relationship with Nillumbik and Banyule Council Youth Services with a view to identifying a project to address youth homelessness in the area'.
Which is a neat segue to our program guest for this week - the Mayor of Nillumbik Peter Clarke. We have much to talk to Peter about, including what we can do together to meet the youth homelessness goal, the future of festival funding, and any future developments at Lower Eltham Park, so it should be a lively meeting this week. Please remember to book in by COB Tuesday evening to help Denese get numbers to Third Chapter by Wednesday morning.
We enjoyed the visit last week by our District Governor Bernie Bott and Assistant Governor Greg Paull accompanied by Charlie the Bull and it's safe to say that all three of them enjoyed their visit to us. Charlie posed for photos down at the Aquabox Shed and promised to spread the Aquabox message at zone conference in Darwin in a few week's time. Bernie and Greg met with the Board prior to the Club meeting and heard about our planning and projects for the year. It was very gratifying to hear Bernie say that Eltham is a Club he would be happy to join (but I don't think he's leaving Yarrawonga any time soon!).
Congratulations to our latest Paul Harris Fellow, Alan McCleary. Thanks Alan for your contribution to the Rotary Club of Eltham and to furthering the goals of Foundation of building world understanding and peace.
On other member news, it was great to welcome back Howard Turner after recent illness and Ron Manison from overseas travels. Best wishes to our Sergeant Brett Linsell and Program Director Alison Cooper who have both been unwell in the last few weeks.
Cheers, President Judy
Lower Eltham Park BBQ 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
You are responsible for finding a replacement if you are unable to do your rostered duty and notify Lyn Truran ljtruran@bigpond.com
This week we welcome as our guest speaker Nillumbik Mayor, Councillor Peter Clarke. He is Councillor for Wingrove Ward which includes Eltham. An Eltham resident for 25 years, Cr Clarke comes to Nillumbik with experience as a former Councillor at Melbourne City (2006-2012), and Heidelberg (1981-1989).
Nillumbik Shire Council is unique as the south of Nillumbik is predominantly urban, with commercial centres at Eltham and Diamond Creek. The north of the municipality includes significant natural features including Kinglake National Park and Sugarloaf Reservoir.
Mayor Clarke plans to make Nillumbik the world’s most liveable shire. He acknowledges that it is a lofty aspiration, but a goal worth focusing on. He is confident that this council will work in a collaborative nature, and will work with state and federal politicians and if that support is reciprocated, Nillumbik can indeed be the world’s most liveable shire.
Come along to find out more about Mayor Clarke’s vision for Nillumbik; this is your opportunity to ask your questions about future plans for the Shire.
Judy Sharp: Following the information presented by Jules last week, please complete attendance sheet re conference including accommodation preferred, Friday night dinner etc.
Lou Bolzonello: Festival update – no certainty about the future in regard to Nillumbik’s commitment to sponsorship so need to focus on uniting the community and bringing in additional revenue e.g. BBQ trailer, showbags, increasing the number of major sponsors. The ‘bucket brigade’ important for gold coin donations. Please provide purchase orders and invoices to Lou for any reimbursement required. Infrastructure costs being reviewed.
Dale Atkins: Jill gave an Aquabox presentation at RC Diamond Creek this week and accepted from them a generous donation of $1,400. The Marathon coming up on 15 October – this year looking at a cheaper alternative to costly shirts with sponsor information etc. Need a mini working bee for Aquabox to cut packets of water purifiers in half – will be BYO scissors. Problems getting in and out shed – instructions given about how to use the manual over-ride on the gate. This involves some precarious physical manoeuvres!
Gary Williams: Next Tuesday from 2.30 – 4.00 pm an afternoon tea with the Director of WEHI. Still one or two places left to make up a group of six.
Uncertain times; looking for ways the Club can save on expenditure for 2017 festival and consolidate any funds raised given the 1300+ volunteer hours put in by Rotarians and partners on festival weekend. Examples of how the festival committee is looking to shore up funds include:
1. Running the Showbag van again, which in 2016, resulted in more funds compared with receiving a percentage of sales in previous years
2. Using the BBQ trailer in the park over the weekend. This will replace the Sunday cake stall. Lyn Hardiman has done a brilliant job over many years in organising partners to run the the trash and treasure stall, and more recently, the cake stall. Both these stalls have raised thousands of dollars for Rotary over the years and we're very grateful for this terrific effort. The cake stall has required a big effort from an ever reducing number of donors so this year we're looking to put in a whole of club effort (Rotarians and partners), using the BBQ trailer over the weekend and hopefully sharing the load a bit more. We look forward to the support of Lyn and our partners once again.
3. Looking at infrastructure costs such as generators, marquee hire etc. and seeing if we can reduce some of our operating costs. Dave Laws and Ian Kiddle looking into this.
Continuing to encourage gold coin donations for festival programs at entry points
Eliminating $100 local sponsors and instead working to encourage more $500 sponsors - getting too hard to get people to commit.
After 16 Rounds without a perfect 9 tips, Week 20 saw 4 people finally select all nine. Perfect tippers were Rob J and Lou Bolzonello with a margin of 36 pts, Josh Ogden with a margin of 31, but our top tipper with the best margin of 28 and winner of the $320 jackpot no other than Bluey Ron Manison. Warrandyte Saint (Frank Lynch), maintains his formidable lead at the top with a very respectable weekly score of 8. When will Catz Woman play that Joker and will it be enough to catch the Saint!!
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